News Details

WVWD Partners with Heli-Hydrant to Enhance Emergency and Wildfire Response

August 19, 2025

Walnut Valley Water District (WVWD) is proud to announce a strategic partnership with Heli–Hydrant, to bolster wildfire and emergency response capabilities in the region. Under this first‑of‑its‑kind arrangement for the area, WVWD’s Heli‑Hydrant system is connected to a recycled‑water reservoir – making it both a smart emergency planning tool and a demonstration of the District’s enduring commitment to conservation.

WVWD is the first water agency in the region to integrate a Heli-Hydrant system with a recycled water source, leveraging the District’s Industry Business Center Reservoir, completed in 2022. The connection to the recycled system underscores the District’s aim to protect infrastructure and community safety without depleting potable water supplies or increasing impacts to residential customers.

“Connecting our Heli-Hydrant to a recycled water source ensures we’re maximizing our ability to protect the community while minimizing the impact on our residential customers,” said Sheryl Shaw, General Manager of Walnut Valley Water District. “This partnership shows how innovation, sustainability, and public‑safety planning can work hand in hand.”

The Heli‑Hydrant system provides a quick‑fill water supply for helicopters, enabling rapid aerial firefighting operations. Drawing on best‑practice examples, comparable systems allow helicopters to refill in mere minutes from strategically placed, pilot‑operated tanks — dramatically cutting turnaround times and enhancing wildfire containment efforts.

Situated in the City of Industry, WVWD’s reservoir and Heli‑Hydrant infrastructure stand ready to support the Los Angeles County Fire Department and other first‑responder agencies when wildfire conditions or other emergencies require a rapid aerial water source. At the same time, using recycled water protects the District’s potable supply, helping to maintain service reliability and reduce cost impacts for households.

“This system is a leap forward for community resilience,” said Shaw. “In partnership with the firefighting community and our neighboring agencies, we’re proud to be a leader in resource stewardship and emergency readiness.”